Alaska: Chugach State Park

Hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, ATVing, berry picking, horseback riding...you'll find tons of outdoor activities available at Chugach State Park, which also happens to be one of the largest and best state parks in the country. There are thousands of miles of trails, some of which take you up Flattop Mountain (the most climbed mountain in Alaska) and others that will take you to over 60 stunning glaciers.

California: Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Northern California may be known for wine, but it's also known for its giant redwood trees, which you can experience for yourself at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The 18,000-acre grove of statuesque trees is unlike anything you've ever seen, with some of the redwoods growing over 50 feet wide and others as tall as the Statue of Liberty.

Louisiana: Fontainebleau State Park

New Orleans is home to plenty of hidden gems, including Fontainebleau State Park. Bordering Lake Pontchartrain, the park is 2,800 acres of forests and beaches—highlights include the Nature Trail that is always teeming with local wildlife and birds and the family-friendly swimming areas.

Montana: Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park

It's what's below the surface at this state park in Jefferson County that attracts visitors from all over the region. Head underground to explore the vast network of caves, teeming with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. For a small fee, you can take an hour-long guided tour of the caverns.

Nevada: Valley of Fire State Park

Not only is the Valley of Fire arguably Nevada's most popular state park but it's also the oldest and the largest. A quick one-hour drive from Las Vegas, it's 40,000 acres of vibrant red sandstone rock formations (hence the name) which you can hike through to score breathtaking desert views. You may even glimpse petroglyphs on some of the rocks that are thousands of years old.

New Mexico: Elephant Butte Lake State Park

Fishers and boaters rejoice! Elephant Butte Lake, which is the largest body of water in New Mexico, is always buzzing with jet skis, kayaks, powerboats, and more. If you don't have your own watercraft, you can also rent your own by the hour at any of the three marinas.

Ohio: Hocking Hills State Park

There are plenty of outdoor activities and exploring to be done at Hocking Hills, like trekking to the waterfalls or navigating one of the many caves, including Ash Cave, the largest recessed cave in Ohio. But perhaps the most exciting activity is the canopy zipline, which was dubbed one of the craziest ziplines in the world.